The Vine - Mantua United Methodist Church · The Vine The Love Month February is the month that we...
Transcript of The Vine - Mantua United Methodist Church · The Vine The Love Month February is the month that we...
The Vine
The Love Month
February is the month that we normally think about love because of Valen-tine’s Day. I have been thinking recently about God’s love.
John describes God’s love in I John 4 as being revealed by God sending Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins so that we might live through him. Love gives of oneself completely for the other, even when the other is undeserving of that love. Paul does an excellent job of describing then the love that we are to have for one another. He does that in I Corinthians 13 where he describes love as patient, kind, not envious boastful or arrogant or rude. It doesn’t insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
Certainly God is patient with us and merciful and forgiving. We have all ex-perienced that. But there is another side of God’s love that we don’t think about too often. Paul talks about it when he says asks if he should sin more so that God’s grace might abound. His answer, “God forbid.” There is a part of God’s love that corrects us. Much like a parent disciplines a child out of love so that they do not harm themselves, so God’s love does for us.
One of the beautiful illustrations of how this works is in John 8. A woman caught in adultery, punishable by death, was brought to Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. Knowing the law, they hoped that Jesus would say something that would get him in trouble. He responded by saying that whichever of them was without sin should throw the first stone. When they all went away, he asked her where her accusers were. Then he said to her,
Dana Isles &
Facedown
March 21, 2014
Headstone 118
April 11, 2014
Above the Fall
May 16, 2014
“Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on, do not sin again.” She was forgiven, but he also corrected her behavior. God’s love does the same for us. As we think about love, we can be grateful for God’s love, mercy, and grace. We can also give thanks for God’s love that corrects and keeps us on the right path. So however it is that you are experiencing God’s love today, thank him for it. And the only proper response except for gratitude is for us to love each other the way that God loves us.
Pastor Doug, Pam, Justin, Tyler, and Kristin would like to thank all of you for your kindness in remember-ing us this Christmas season!
The Langer family thanks everyone for your thoughtfulness this Christmas and we hope you all have a joyous 2014!
Women’s Community Bible Study Women’s Community Bible Study led by Pastor Gene Wilkins meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays September through May at the United Methodist Church of Mantua. Starting at 9:30 am for coffee and fellowship, with the study be-ginning at 10:00 am. Currently, Pastor Gene is leading a study on Biblical miracles. All are wel-come. If you have any questions, contact the Church office at 468-2711 or call 468-5549.
Acolyte Update February 9—Pizza Party and Game Night
(may change to February 2) February 23—Acolyte Meeting
Ash Wednesday Soup Supper will be March 5 at 6:00 pm in McConnell Hall. Please sign up to bring your favorite homemade soup or a loaf of bread by contacting Janet Fuhrer 848-9986.
Valentine’s Day Cards for Pitman Manor residents will be in McConnell Hall. Please stop by and sign a card, it may be the only one they receive.
Souper Bowl Sunday is February 2nd! Don’t forget to bring in Soups and Stews to help stock the Corinthian Cupboard!
Blanket Sunday February 2
You’ve helped us respond to disasters for more
than six decades. We’ve seen CWS Blankets used
as shelters, suitcases, coats, stretchers—you name
it. But the first role the blanket plays is as a sym-
bol that someone care enough to help. Are you
that someone? Each $10 dona�on purchases one
blanket to give to someone in need.
Shady Maple & Sight & Sound Bus Trip Bus trip: Leaving from UMC of Mantua at 8 am on Mar 27 & returning to UMC of Mantua at 8 pm
Destination: Lunch at Shady Maple & Moses at Sight and Sound
Cost of trip: $99. Checks made payable to SCUCS.
Please contact Gail Slimm for further information 207-7800.
Rock the Block Meeting Sunday, February 23
After 2nd Service
Come Out and Support Rock the Block February 20th
5:00 pm—8:00 pm At the Mantua Chick-fil-A
February Confirmation Class Schedule February 6, 7:30 pm at UMC of Mantua February 20, 7:30 pm at UMC of Mantua
February 2014 Mantua Methodist Vine By William M. Crowley, Educational Research Director
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), “Study to show thyself approved unto GOD2” This exciting, unending series researches the KJV Bible with other sources.
In time for Valentine’s Day
SOLOMON’S LOVE SONGS: BORROWED? Song of Solomon 1:2, The “bride” says, “Let him kiss meF” It reflects both their passions.
This love-inspired poem we are showing as historical. The events are: Solomon seizes a very beautiful peasant girl to be put in his private bed chamber. Her skin is black from the sun. Song 1:5, “I am black but comely...” ** Privately she admits chastity loss. Song 1:6, “Fbut mine own vineyardF(is) not kept.” Her shepherd lover. Song 1:7, “Fthou whom my soul loveth,Fwhere thy flockFrestF” Solomon’s wooing fails. Song 6:13, “Why should you look upon the Shulamite...?” Solomon rejected. Song 8:7, “Fwaters cannot quench love, neitherF floods drown it.” She goes home. The brothers feel still a virgin. Are not aware of her shepherd’s role. Boyfriend shepherd now has a ring put in his nose. Song 8:6, “Set me (my emphasis) as a seal
upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave.”
Lesson learned: A beautiful peasant girl, who outwits Solomon, is the one who got away. Sol-omon wrote about this loss. Then she got the shepherd. No more “pasteurizing”.
SOLOMON’S LOVE SONG: BORROWED? The most important Sumerian ceremony began at the new year. The king needed the priest-ess to participate in the symbolic marriage to the moon-goddess, Inanna, the life-giving goddess of fertility. The Sumerians believed this ceremony ensured a fruitful and prosperous year. The Oxford Bible Commentary was linked to a temple priestess. A Sumerian poem’s 1947 translation had loving words of an unnamed priestess to her king. We found her: Kubatum.
KUBATUM, THE SUMERIAN PRIESTESS In 2030 B.C., she was the priestess in the city of Ur. Insisting on physically acting out the ritu-al made her the special favorite of her fertility ritual partner, Shu-Sin, King of Ur. Performed every spring at the top of a ziggurat, Kubatum and the king physically relived the Sacred Marriage of Dumuz and Inanna. Shu-Sin favored Kubatum with gold jewelry giftsF strictly religious perksFcoupled with a warm relationship.
KUBATUM’S GIFT Kubatum, besides the erotic contribution, gave the king immortalityFin her writings. She wrote mar-riage songsF lots of themFwhich analyzers feel the later Hebrews borrowed. Remember: In the Oxford Bible Commentary, it was felt the origin was a priestess (or a poem to a temple goddess). Here was our love goddess with full instructions on procedures. The king had his Boswell (biographer). The milk and honey references refer to Near Eastern poetry sexual circumstances.
“SONG” SIGNIFICANT REFERENCE? ** Song21:5,6 “I am black and beautiful,2Do not gaze at me because I am dark,2” A stranger has the king’s favor. The Queen of Sheba? Black no obstacle then. Why now?
St. M
ark’s U
nited
Meth
odist C
hurch
in Florid
a has a “C
are
Pack
age” p
rogram
that h
as been
shipping boxes o
f items an
d
letters to differen
t Military
troops aro
und th
e world
. We h
ave
decid
ed th
at our Y
outh Group need
s to fin
d m
ore w
ays to
show God’s lo
ve o
utsid
e of o
ur ch
urch
es (Barn
sboro an
d M
an-
tua). W
e are hoping to
send item
s, letters, and card
s to so
l-
diers in
war to
rn areas to
show our su
pport. T
he y
outh have
been
asked to
write letters o
r a card fo
r some o
f our m
ilitary
members. W
e are asking fo
r your h
elp to
o! P
lease help
us
help
others b
y pick
ing up a few
of th
e items listed
on th
e back
of th
is insert. B
ring it in
to our ch
urch
es and place th
em in
the
boxes m
arked “M
ilitary Collectio
n”. If y
ou would lik
e to sen
d
a couple o
f cards o
f encourag
ement, p
lease feel free to write
them
up an
d give th
em to
Pam
Baitin
ger o
r Penny Kirk
brid
e.
Thank you in
advance fo
r your su
pport!
Item
s for th
e care
pa
ck
ag
es will b
e collected
from
Ja
nu
ary
19
—F
ebru
ary
9
En
terta
inm
en
t
Ink pens
Notepads of paper
Word Puzzle books
Long-distance phone cards
Movie DVDs
Games
blank DVDs (making things to send
back)
Magazines Poker games
Playing cards
Dice
Dominoes
Music CDs
Paper back books (new or used)
Mis
cella
neo
us
pillow cases
Sheets
Blankets
Air fre
sheners
Koozies to keep bottles and cans cool
Brown t-shirts
AAA-D size batteries
Cotton dark bandanas
Stress relief balls
Tennis balls
Sewing kit
Black or Brown Boot laces
Boot Socks
Hand warmers
Inflatable seat cushions
To
iletr
ies
Shower to Shower body/foot powder
Baby Wipes
Razors
Body Wash
Soap bars
Shampoos
Toothbrushes & toothpaste
Heat Wraps for sore muscles
Liniments
Lip Balm
Icy Hot Patches
Vitamins
Aspirins
Alka-Seltzer
Deodorant
Ziploc Bags
Gro
cerie
s
Powered mixes for water
Jelly beans/ hard candy
Rice Krispie treats/any treats/cookies
Send M&M's (plain or peanut)
* No C
hoco
late
cand
ies * (T
hey m
elt)
Altoids or mints/ gum/ tic-tacs/ etc.
Beef jerky/ tra
il mix/ Snack mixes
Sunflower seeds/crackers / Nuts
Instant Oatmeal
Little Debbie's or Oreo snacks
Pop Tarts
Gatorade/Yoohoo drink mixes
Shelf life
milk
Canned food items (Tuna/Vienna
sausage, beans and franks, Smoked
oysters and sardines, Canned pasta,
soup, Canned Fruits)
*Best w
ith p
op to
p lid
s*
Coffee and filte
rs, instant coffee, teas
Small packs of spices: crushed red
pepper, salt, pepper (Store in zip lock
bag)
Pringles chips
squeeze type cheese
small mayo
Catsup
mustard
Salsa
Hot sauce
Pickles
BBQ sauce
Microwave popcorn and Mac&cheese
Cereal bars/granola bars
Hot cocoa mix
Soup mix
Items W
an
ted
for B
ox
es to
Ou
r Milita
ry
Un
ited
Me
tho
dis
t Ch
urc
h o
f Ma
ntu
a
Min
iste
ring
Th
rou
gh
Vid
eo
P
ain
les
s F
un
dra
ise
r
♦
Bu
y S
ho
p R
ite ($
20) C
ard
s.
♦
Th
e C
hu
rch
receiv
es 5
%
♦
Yo
u re
ceiv
e g
ift card
s d
olla
r for d
olla
r. ♦
It c
osts
yo
u n
oth
ing
! C
urre
ntly
:
We s
ell a
pp
roxim
ate
ly $
1,0
00 o
f gift c
ard
s p
er m
on
th.
A
nn
ually
we e
arn
ab
ou
t $600.
Where does the money go? It p
ays for some of th
e equipment
needs of M
TV. In
additio
n, contrib
utions have been made to The
Roof Fund, Chime Choir R
epair, U
MC Mission Trips and The Car-
pet Fund.
Go
al: W
e have a goal o
f $1,0
00 p
er w
eek. T
his is easily achievable!
If we only had 50 fa
milie
s th
at s
hop at S
hop Rite
and each fa
mily
bought o
ne card per w
eek, th
at w
ould be $1,000. T
he church would
earn $
2,6
00 p
er y
ear.
When we meet th
is goal, M
TV would not only be mostly self-
supportin
g, we would also be able to make larger contrib
u-
tions for other church needs.
Ac
tion
: L
ET
’S D
O IT
!
Exchange your c
ash or c
heck fo
r Shop Rite
gift c
ards
and go fo
od shopping fo
r your fa
mily or d
onate cards to
The Corin
thian Cupboard or F
amily Promise!
It c
osts nothing but re
aps great re
wards!
Resu
lts fo
r the Y
ear 2
013: A
vera
ge $
425 p
er w
eek in
gift c
ard
p
urc
hases! G
reat J
ob
!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
B
ruce R
eyh
er, M
TV
Tre
asu
rer
The UMM needs your help
to round up some suspects!
February 15th 6:00 pm
In M
cConnell Hall
This will be a m
en's event and an opportunity to gather for fellow
ship, food and fun. There will be a com
petition for the best recipe and lots of good food to eat. Other congregations will be participating as w
ell. Come out and support the m
en's ministry here in M
antua! Please see or contact Keith Wyckoff
if you have any questions: 856-537-7656
Be
st C
hili i
n T
ow
n
Happy February Birthday!
Happy February Anniversary
1 Brayden Green Betty Jameson Joyce Wescott 2 Amy Durand Jody Miller Linda Rudisill 4 Brenda Anderson Nick Colamarino 6 Larissa Tumminia 7 Bill Lisle Richard Lynch 8 Morgan Gallagher Robert Hoskins 9 Adam Eubanks 12 Patricia Nolte Joe Vincent 13 Charlie Armstrong Danielle Davis Erin Munch Marc Nagtegaal 14 Pam Baitinger Ryan Borgersen
16 Chelsea Guarrera Lisa Legg 17 Barbara Davis Nancy Fink Marilyn Heston Kai Kraft Karisa Wescott 18 Chris Seabo 19 Anthony Dorisio 20 Judy Bufala 21 Shannon String 22 Kristin Baitinger Marcie Daniels Jeffrey Fuchs 24 Emily Wyatt 25 Monica Dilio Evan Ewan Donald Rumbol Lynn Varner 27 Terry Grabert 29 Timothy Shockley
2 Dan & Terri Smith 6 Doug & Pam Baitinger 11 Pardam & Theresa Skalit 14 Bill & Debbie Wolf 22 Harry & Lorraine Litle 27 Jan & Janet Fuhrer